Drawing frame stop motion



Jan. 16, 1968 H. L. FOSTER DRAWING FRAME STOP MOTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 4, 1966 INVENTOR. HAROLE) L. FosTa-iz BYM fl w w F|||| ll- ATTORNEYS Jan. 16, 1968 H. L. FOSTER DRAWING FRAME STOP MOTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 1966 INVENTORZ HAzoLb L. FOTER Bywmwww/w ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofifice 3,353,285 Patented Jan. 16, 1963 3,363,285 DRAWING FRAME STOP MOTION Harold L. Foster, Chester, S.C., assignor to Springs Mills Inc., a corporation of South Carolina Filed Jan. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 518,566 3 Claims. (Cl. 19-.25)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A first strand sensing device is positioned on the creel which guides the strands to the drawing frame and a second strand sensing device is positioned closely adjacent the entrance end of the drafting zone. The first sensing device includes a detector finger normally supported by and riding on each strand as it is guided forwardly by the creel and the second sensing device includes a detector bar that extends below all of the strands. Either of the sensing devices operates to immediately stop the drawing frame when a broken or slack strand is detected thereby.

This invention relates generally to a stop motion for drawing frames and more particularly to a stop motion which includes first and second spaced apart strand sensing devices, one of which is positioned on the creel that guides the textile strands or slivers to the drawing frame and the other of which is positioned closely adjacent the entrance end of the drafting zone.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a stop motion of the type described wherein the first and second spaced apart strand sensing devices are operable to immediately stop the drawing frame as soon as a broken or slack strand is detected by either sensing device.

Ths object is accomplished by providing the first and second sensing devices with special detector means. The detector means of the first sensing device (associated with the creel) includes detector fingers which are pivotally supported at one end and their other end is normally supported by and rides on the individual strands. A contact rod extends above the strands and is positioned to be engaged by the upper ends of contact fingers supported at their lower ends on the medial portions of each of the detector fingers. The contact rod and the contact fingers define a first switch means that is actuated when any one of the detector fingers is not properly supported by the corresponding strands so that the contact finger moves into engagement with the contact rod.

The detector means of the second sensing device (positioned at the entrance end of the drafting zone) includes a detector bar positioned beneath the moving strands to be engaged and moved by a broken or slack strand as it approaches the drafting zone, and a contact member positioned to be engaged by movement of the detector rod. The detector bar and the contact member define a second switch means that is actuated when the detector bar is moved by a broken or slack strand.

Details of the invention will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the entrance end of a drawing frame and illustrating the manner in which the slivers or strands are withdrawn from the supply cans, pass over the creel arms and are guided into the drafting zone;

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of the last creel arm, looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in FIGURE 1 and showing the first sensing device connected to the electrical circuit of the drawing frame;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through one of the strand guiding passageways in the creel arm, being taken substantially along the line 33 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the right-hand portion of FIGURE 1, illustrating the location of the second sensing device, relative to the rearrnost drafting roll;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view looking along the line 5-5 in FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view of one end of the second sensing device, looking downwardly on the portion of the second sensing device shown in FIGURE 4.

Only those portions of the drawing frame have been shown in the drawings that are necessary to an understanding of the present stop motion. As shown in FIG- URE 1, the strands or slivers S are withdrawn from supply cans 10 and pass upwardly and over creel arms 12 which extend outwardly from opposite sides of a central creel frame 13, only one side of which is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The creel arms 12 each include a plurality of spaced apart strand guiding passageways 14 (FIGURE 3) through which the individual strands S are drawn.

The drawing frame (FIGURE 1) includes a set of upper drafting rolls 16 and lower drafting rolls 17 which define a drafting zone through which the strands S are passed. The drafting rolls are suitably supported in slide blocks which are adjustably supported on spaced apart slide stands 20, only one of which is shown. The slide stands 20 are supported on a main frame beam 21 and support opposed ends of an apron 22 that extends outwardly behind the rearrnost drafting rolls 16, 17. Thus, the strands S are withdrawn from the supply can 10 and rawn into the drafting zone by the rearmost drafting rolls 16, 17 and should one of the strands S break, the resulting drafted sliver would not be of the desired weight and density. Also, should one of the strands S become excessively slack, the resulting drafted sliver would not be uniform.

In accordance with the present invention, first and second strand sensing devices, broadly indicated at A and B respectively (FIGURE 1), operate to immediately stop the drawing frame should any one of the strands be broken or become excessively slack. The first strand sensing device includes a plurality of detector fingers 25 (FIGURE 2) which are pivotally supported at their upper ends on pins 26 that are in turn supported on brackets 27 (FIGURE 3). The lower free end of each detector finger 25 is preferably provided with downturned slide flanges and is adapted to ride on and be supported by the strand S as it passes through the strand guiding passageway 14 of the last creel arm 12.

An upstanding contact finger 28 is fixed at its lower end in the med al portion of the detector finger 25 (FIG- URE 3) and is adapted to engage a control rod 30 when the free end of the detector finger 25 is permitted to be lowered beyond a predetermined position, as when a strand breaks or when the strand becomes excessively slack, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 3. The medial portion of the contact rod extends along in front of the contact fingers 28 (FIGURE 2). Opposite ends of the control rod 30 are suitably connected to a guide plate 32 which extends along and is suitably connected to but electrically insulated from the creel arm 12. The guide plate 32 is suitably connected to an electrical stop motion circuit, to be presently described.

The second strand sensing device B includes a detector rod or bar 35 (FIGURE 5) having its medial horizontal portion positioned above the apron 22 and spaced below the moving strands S. Opposite ends of the horizontal portion of the detector bar 35 have vertically extending leg portions 35, 37 and horizontal pivot portions 38, 39 at opposite ends. The horizontal pivot portions 38, 39

are supported for pivotal movement in suitable openings in the upper portions of the upstanding support posts 42, 43 which are supported at their lower ends in the apron 22. A contact member 45 (FIGURE 6) is supported at its lower end and electrically insulated from the apron 22. The upper end of the member 45 is bent and extends around over the medial portion of the detector rod 35 and has a bifurcated vertically extending portion defining a pair of contact legs 46, 47 which straddle and are normally spaced apart from the medial portion of the detector bar 35. The legs 46, 47 of the contact member 4-5 and the detector rod 35 define second switch means that is connected to the stop motion circuit.

The frame of the machine and the creel 13 are electrically grounded so that the upstanding contact fingers 28 form the grounded element of the first switch means while the detector rod 35 forms the grounded element of the second switch means. The contact rod 30 forms the positive element of the first switch means and the contact member 45 forms the positive element of the second switch means. The contact rod 30 is connected to the stop motion circuit by means of a wire 50 (FIGURE 2) while the contact element 45 is connected to the stop motion circuit by means of a wire 51 (FIGURES 2 and The stop motion circuit also includes a wire 52 which is connected at one end to the wires 50, 51 and at its other end to one side of an electrically operable control switch 53. The other side of the switch 53 is connected to a transformer 54 by a wire 55. The driving motor of the drawing frame is schematically illustrated at 56 in FIGURE 2 and is connected to an electrical driving circuit that is controlled by the switch 53. As long as the switch 53 is in the closed position shown in FIGURE 2, the drawing frame and motor 56 will continue to operate. When the contact rod 30 is engaged by one of the contact fingers 28 or when the detector bar 35 engages the leg 47 of the contact member 45, the stop motion circuit (FIG- URE 2) will be completed to cause the switch 53 to open and thereby immediately stop the motor 56 of the drawing frame.

As long as all of the strands S are being properly withdrawn from the supply can 19 and fed to the drafting zone by the rear drafting rolls 16, 17, the strands S will support the detector fingers 25 so that the contact fingers 28 do not engage the contact rod 30 and the detector rod 35 will remain out of engagement with the leg 47 of the contact element 45 (FIGURE 6) so that the drawing frame will continue to operate. Should the strand S come out of the can in looped condition and straighten out as it passes through the guide passageway 14 in the creel arm, it will be excessively slack and will not properly support the detector finger 25 so that the contact fingers 28 will engage the contact rod and actuate the stop motion circuit. If the strand S is broken or excessively slack between the last creel arm and the drafting zone, the strand will be pulled over the detector rod 35 to move the same into engagement with the contact leg 47 and actuate the stop motion circuit. Thus, the first and second switch means are each operable to immediately stop the driving motor of the'drawing frame. While the wiring diagram in FIGURE 2 is illustrated in simplified form, it is to be understood that the stop motion means of the present invention need not necessarily be connected directly to the driving motor of the drawing frame but may be connected to an electromagnetically operated clutch or may also be adapted to operate a mechanical knock-off arrangement.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a A descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a drawing frame having rotatable drafting rolls defining a drafting zone, an apron extending rearwardly from the drafting zone, and creel means including spaced apart creel arms having strand guiding passageways therein for directing a plurality of individual textile strands to said drafting rolls, the combination therewith of strand actuated stop motion means comprising (a) first strand sensing means supported on said creel and including (1) detector fingers pivotally supported at one end on said creel arms and above the strand guiding passageways therein, said detector fingers each having a free end normally adapted to ride on and be supported by a strand,

(2) an upstanding contact finger supported at its lower end on a medial portion of each of said detector fingers, and

(3) a contact rod extending above the detector fingers and positioned to be engaged by a contact finger when the corresponding detector finger is not supported by the strand, said contact fingers and said contact rod defining first switch means, and

(b) second strand sensing means positioned closely adjacent the point of entrance of the strands into the drafting zone, said second sensing means including (1) a detector bar having a medial portion extending above the apron and beneath the moving strands as they approach the drafting zone,

(2) means supporting opposite ends of said detector bar so that movement is imparted to the medial portion of said detector bar when en: gaged by broken and slack strands moving toward the drafting zone, and

(3) a contact member positioned to be engaged by the medial portion'of said detector bar in response to movement thereof by broken and slack strands, said contact member and said detector bar defining second switch means, and (0) means for stopping the drawing frame in response to actuation of said first or second switch means of said first and said second sensing means.

2. In a structure according to claim 1 wherein said detector bar includes vertically extending legs at opposite ends and horizontal pivot portions, and wherein said support means includes upstanding support posts having openings at theupper ends thereof in which the pivot portions are pivotally supported. I

3. In a structure according to claim 2 wherein said contact member includes a pair of spaced vertical legs extending down on opposite sides of the medial portion.

of said detector bar to be engaged thereby upon movement thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,007,643 7/1935 Exley 226-41 2,712,676 7/1955 McIntyre 28-51 3,124,843 3/1964 Adams et al. l9--.25 3,271,823 9/1966 Whitehurst 19.25

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,163,481 4/ 1958 France. 1,171,755 10/1958 France.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

I. C. WADDEY, Assistant Examiner. 

